Around the Region: Clay County hero honored for rescue

Saturday

Oct 26, 2013 at 5:24 PM

BAKER COUNTY

Suwannee stops medical incinerator

Members of the Baker County Conservation Alliance lent their assistance to Suwannee County residents trying to stop the construction of a medical waste incinerator in their county. The effort appears to have been successful. The Pennsylvania company, Integrated Waste Management Systems, pulled its application for an environmental permit to build the incinerators Oct. 16, according to the Suwannee Democrat.

ATLANTIC BEACH

Police station saga unresolved

The ongoing saga over what to do about the cramped city police station on Seminole Road will undergo further discussion at Monday's regular commission workshop and a possible vote next month after the board recently rejected the idea of building a new station on Mayport Road. The current plan seems to be to expand and remodel the existing structure. The need for more space either by renovating or replacing the existing 25-year-old, 6,000-square-foot structure has been the subject of a series of studies and discussions for years without resolution.

JACKSONVILLE BEACH

Parking remains big issue

City officials continue to grapple with improving parking in the central downtown business district after this week's rejection of a staff proposal to spend $1.1 million on a system using gated arms, credit card machines and multispace parking meters. The City Council has had a series of workshops on the parking issue, during which a variety of options have been discussed. The city now collects $5 on Friday nights and on the weekends. No future workshops have been set.

JACKSONVILLE BEACH

Police unit reorganized

The crime-prevention unit of the Jacksonville Beach Police Department was reorganized in September and moved to the department's services division. The services sergeant is now responsible for the crime-prevention unit. Three officers were recruited into the unit and are being scheduled for the appropriate classes to recertify or certify them as crime prevention specialists.

ORANGE PARK

Lung cancer screenings offered

Orange Park Medical Center is offering low-cost lung cancer screenings in an effort to help detect lung cancer earlier. For more or to schedule the $99 screening, call Consult-A-Nurse at (800) 889-3627. The screenings are available seven days a week at Orange Park Medical Center or Monday-Friday at Fleming Island Imaging Center.

CLAY

Keystone Heights hero honored

The sheriff recently presented Devin McEwen of Keystone Heights a special Citizen Commendation Award for saving a woman's life after she crashed her car into a retention pond in August. McEwen, on his way to work at Adamec Harley-Davidson of Orange Park, pulled over and without hesitation went in after her. The vehicle was submerged up to the steering wheel.

AMELIA ISLAND

Osprey Village resident wins horse-training award

Congratulations to Babette Williams, also known as Babs Spencer-Santarelli, of the Osprey Village retirement community. The Audrey Pugh Gutridge Award is presented at the World's Championship Horse Show at the Kentucky State Fair to women for "major contributions and dedication to the professional horse show world."

ST. JOHNS

Harvey/Lottery support Marineland

The Florida Lottery and renowned wildlife artist Guy Harvey recently presented Marineland Dolphin Adventure with a $10,000 check to help fund its educational programs. The proceeds were generated for the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation from sales of the Guy Harvey Lottery scratch-off tickets.

ST. AUGUSTINE

Bozard Ford Lincoln counts

The St. Johns County School District recently presented its "Community Service Award" to Bozard Ford Lincoln dealership in St. Augustine for its efforts in making the district's inaugural "Character Counts! Six Pillars 6K/3K Run/Walk" a success. For more about Character Counts and upcoming events go to stjohns.k12.fl.us/cc/.

Do you have something you would like to share about your community? Send news-related tips to Scott Butler at scott.butler@jacksonville.com or (904) 359-4566.

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